US4885318A

US4885318A - Polyketone flame retardant composition

Info

Publication number: US4885318A
Application number: US07/332,636
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard L. Danforth; Darlene G. Smith
Original assignee: Shell Oil Co
Current assignee: Shell USA Inc
Priority date: 1989-03-31
Filing date: 1989-03-31
Publication date: 1989-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-31

Abstract

Flame retardant compositions comprise linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon and a minor quantity, relative to the polymer, of certain flame retardants containing an organo halide.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Compositions comprising carbon monoxide/ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon polymers and certain flame retardants demonstrate improved flame retardancy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The general class of polymers of carbon monoxide and one or more ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons has been known for some years. Brubaker, U.S. Pat. No. 2,495,286, produced such polymers of relatively low carbon monoxide content in the presence of free radical catalysts such as benzoyl peroxide. British Pat. No. 1,081,304 produced such polymers of higher carbon monoxide content in the presence of alkylphosphine complexes of palladium as catalyst. Nozaki extended the process to arylphosphine complexes of palladium. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,412.

More recently, the class of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and unsaturated hydrocarbons, now known as polyketones, has become of greater interest, in part because of improved methods of production. Such methods are shown by European Patent Applications 181,014, 121,965, 222,454 and 257,663. The disclosed processes employ, inter alia, a compound of a Group VIII metal such as palladium, an anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid having a pKa below 2 and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus. The resulting polymers are generally high molecular weight thermoplastic polymers having utility in the production of articles such as containers for food and drink and parts for the automotive industry or structural members for use in the construction industry.

With regard to any plastic material employed in a public application, some concern must be shown for the consequences of the material catching fire and burning. Many plastics, e.g., polyvinylchloride, produce highly toxic gases upon combustion. The use of polyketones has advantages in this regard since only atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are present in the polymer molecule. Nevertheless, it would be of advantage to provide for flame retardant compositions of polyketone polymers.

Others in the past have attempted to improve the flame retardancy of polyketone compositions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,449 discloses compositions containing a carbon monoxide/ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon copolymer with an alkaline earth metal carbonate, such as calcium carbonate. While these compositions show improved flame retardancy they still have certain deficiencies. In particular, the compositions containing up to 25% calcium carbonate still have Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) values of only 27-27.5. LOI values of 30 or greater are required for many commercial applications. In addition, the mechanical properties of the flame retardant compositions must remain high if the compositions are to have commercial significance. Therefore, it is important that the amount of flame retardant necessary to obtain commercial compositions be as small as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to flame-retardant compositions of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions of such polymers incorporating a flame-retardant quantity of a flame retardant selected from the group consisting of:

(a) antimony oxide and decabromodiphenyl oxide;

(b) antimony oxide, a zinc borate and a chlorine compound selected from the group consisting of perchloropentacyclodecane, the adduct ##STR1## or mixtures thereof; or (c) a bromine compound selected from the group consisting of tetrabromobisphenol A, a tetrabromobisphenol A carbonate oligomer and an ether derivative of tetrabromobisphenol A. Compositions according to the present invention not only have high LOI values, but also may have good mechanical values (i.e. high modulus and impact).

Copending Patent Applications

Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 332,250, filed Mar. 31, 1989, titled "Flame Retardant Compositions" discloses and claims a flame retardant composition comprising a polyketone polymer and certain alkaline earth metal hydroxides, such as magnesium hydroxides.

Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 332,249, filed Mar. 31, 1989 titled "Flame Retardant Composition Containing Zinc Borate" discloses and claims a flame retardant composition with a polyketone polymer and zinc borate or barium borate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The polymers from which the compositions of the invention are produced are linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon. Suitable ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons have 2 to 20 carbon atoms inclusive, preferably up to 10 carbon atoms inclusive and are wholly aliphatic such as ethylene and other α-olefins including propylene, butene-1, octene-1 and dodecene-1 or are arylaliphatic containing an aryl substituent on an otherwise aliphatic molecule, particularly an aryl substituent on a carbon atom of the ethylenic unsaturation. Illustrative of this latter class of olefins are styrene, p-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene and p-ethylstyrene. Preferred polyketone polymers are copolymers of carbon monoxide and ethylene or terpolymers of carbon monoxide, ethylene and a second aliphatic α-olefin of 3 or more carbon atoms, particularly propylene.

Of particular interest are those polymers of molecular weight from about 1,000 to about 200,000, particularly those of molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 50,000, and containing substantially equimolar quantities of carbon monoxide and ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon.

Such polymers are typically produced by contacting the carbon monoxide and the ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon(s) under polymerization conditions in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst formed from a compound of the Group VIII metals palladium, cobalt or nickel, the anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid of a pKa less than about 6, preferably less than about 2, and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus, sulfur, arsenic or antimony. Although the scope of the polymerization is extensive, for purposes of illustration a preferred Group VIII metal compound is palladium acetate, the anion is the anion of an acid selected from trifluoroacetic acid and para-toluenesulfonic acid and the bidentate ligand is selected from 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane and 1,3-bis[di(2-methoxyphenyl)phosphino]propane.

Polymerization is carried out at polymerization conditions, typically at elevated temperature and pressure, in the gaseous phase or in the liquid phase in the presence of an inert diluent, e.g., a lower alkanol such as methanol or ethanol. The reactants are contacted by conventional methods such as stirring or shaking and subsequent to reaction the polymer product is recovered as by decantation or filtration. The polymer product may contain metallic residues from the catalyst which are removed by contact with a solvent which is selective for the residues. Production of these polymers is illustrated, for example, by published European Patent Applications 181,014, 121,965, 222,454 and 257,663.

The physical properties of the polymer will be determined in part by the molecular weight and by whether the polymer is a copolymer or a terpolymer. Typical melting points are from about 175° C. to about 300° C., more typically from about 210° C. to about 280° C. The structure of the preferred polymers is that of a linear alternating polymer of carbon monoxide, ethylene and any second ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon. When terpolymers of carbon monoxide, ethylene and a second ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon, e.g., a hydrocarbon of at least 3 carbon atoms, are produced there will be at least two units incorporating moieties of ethylene per unit incorporating a moiety of the second unsaturated hydrocarbon, preferably from about 10 units to about 100 units incorporating moieties of ethylene per unit incorporating a moiety of the second unsaturated hydrocarbon. The polymer chain of the preferred class of polymers is illustrated by the formula

--CO(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 ].sub.x [CO--(B)].sub.y

wherein B is the moiety obtained by polymerization of the second ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon through the ethylenic unsaturation. The --CO(C₂ H₄) units and the --CO(B) units occur randomly throughout the polymer molecule and the ratio of y:x is no more than about 0.5. In the modification of the invention which employs copolymers of carbon monoxide and ethylene without the presence of a second ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon, the term y is zero and the ratio of y:x is also zero. When terpolymers are employed, i.e., y is greater than zero, ratios of y:x from about 0.01 to about 0.1 are preferred. The end groups or "caps" of the polymer chain will depend on the particular materials present during its production and whether and how the polymer has been purified. The precise nature of the end groups is of little significance with regard to the overall properties of the polymer so that the polymer is fairly represented by the polymer chain as depicted above.

The flame retardant compositions of the invention contain a flame retarding quantity of a flame retardant selected from three different packages. The first flame retardant package is antimony oxide and decabromodiphenyl oxide (DBDPO). The second flame rretardant package is antimony oxide and a chlorine compound selected from the group consisting of perchloropentacyclodecane, the adduct ##STR2## or mixtures thereof. In a preferred embodiment the second flame retardant package also contains a zinc borate.

The third package is a bromo compound selected from the group consisting of tetrabromobisphenol A, a tetrabromobisphenol A carbonate oligomer or an ether derivative of tetrabromobisphenol A.

Exemplary antimony compounds useful in the practice of this invention include antimaony trioxide (Sb₂ O₃), antimony tetraoxide (Sb₂ O₄), antimony pentoxide (Sb₂ O₅) and the like with antimony trioxide being particularly preferred. The antimony trioxide used herein is the conventional or standard powdered compound.

The decabromodiphenyl oxide used in the present invention is the conventional compound, such as that manufactured by the process of U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,933.

The typical composition of zinc borate is xZnO.yB₂ O₃, and is usually available in the hydrated form. A preferred zinc borate has the formula 2ZnO.3B₂ O₃.3.5H₂ O. Due to slight amounts of impurities and analytical errors, the H₂ O content can vary between about 3.3 and 3.7 but it will generally average about 3.5H₂ O. It will be appreciated that this zinc borate has a much lower degree of water hydration than many other zinc borates. Due to the low amount of water of hydration there is less problem with this zinc borate when it is added to polymeric material with regard to formation of bubbles than with other zinc borates or other inorganic materials during processing, molding and curing. When the specific zinc borate is added to polymers, fire resistance of the polymers is greatly improved while the other physical properties of the polymers are not deteriorated.

A method for producing the zinc borate of low hydration is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,316, and its use with certain halogenated polymeric compositions is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,718,615.

The preferred zinc borate is available commercially under the tradename FIREBRAKE® ZB flame retardant.

The chlorine compound of the second flame retardant package is an adduct of hexachlorocyclopentadiene. One of the adducts employed is perchloropentacyclodecane, which is typically produced by the aluminum chloride-catalyzed dimerization of hexachlorocyclopentadiene in a chlorinated solvent. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,724,730. Perchloropentacyclodecane has a very high melting point (485° C.), is quite unreactive chemically, and is moderately soluble in a number of organic solvents. This dimer is commercially available from Hooker Chemical Company under the tradename DECLORANE® 510.

The other adduct employed in the instant composition is the Diels-Alder product made by adding 2 moles of hexachlorocyclopentadiene to one mole of the stable cis-isomer of 1,5-cyclooctadiene. The structure of the adduct is: ##STR3## This compound has the name 1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10,13,13,14,14-docecachlorol,4,4a,-5,6,6a,7,10,10a,11,12,12a-dodecahydro-1,4:7,10-dimethoanodibenzo[a,e]cyclooctone or 1,5-bis(chlorendo)-cyclooctene. One method to prepare the compound is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,385,819. This adduct is commercially available from Hooker Chemical Company under the tradename DECHLORANE® Plus.

Examples of the bromo compounds useful in the practice of this invention include tetrabromobisphenol A represented by the following formula ##STR4## tetrabromobisphenol A carbonate oligomers represented by the following structural formula ##STR5## wherein n stands for 1-10, ether derivatives of tetrabromobisphenol A represented by the following formula: ##STR6## wherein R and R' independently mean a C_1-3 alkyl group which may be substituted by one or more halogen atoms, allyl group or 2-hydroxyethyl group, decabromodiphenyl oxide, hexabromobenzene, 1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane, 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane, perchlorocyclopentadecane, tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate, and the like. They may be used in combination. Among the above-exemplified halogenous flame retardants, the tetrabromobisphenol A, tetrabromobisphenol A carbonate oligomers and the ether derivatives of tetrabromobisphenol A are preferred. Particularly preferred is tetrabromobisphenol A.

The flame retardant package is employed in an amount sufficient to render the resulting composition flame retardant. Compositions from about 2 to about 50 percent by weight, based on the total composition, of the flame retardant package are preferred. More preferred are compositions having about 15 to about 40 percent by weight of the flame retardant package.

The following relative amounts of polymer and flame retardants are suitable (all numbers expressed in weight percent of the total composition:

______________________________________                                    
         Preferred    More Preferred                                      
______________________________________                                    
First Package                                                             
Polyketone Poly-                                                          
           about 50 to about 98%                                          
                          about 60 to about 85%                           
mer                                                                       
Antimony oxide                                                            
           about 1 to about 30%                                           
                          about 3 to about 15%                            
Decabromodi-                                                              
           about 1 to about 40%                                           
                          about 5 to about 25%                            
phenyl oxide                                                              
Second Package                                                            
Polyketone Poly-                                                          
           about 50 to about 98%                                          
                          about 50 to about 85%                           
mer                                                                       
Antimony oxide                                                            
           about 1 to about 20%                                           
                          about 3 to about 10%                            
Zinc borate                                                               
           none           about 3 to about 10%                            
Chlorine com-                                                             
           about 1 to about 30%                                           
                          about 5 to about 25%                            
pound                                                                     
Third Package                                                             
Polyketone poly-                                                          
           about 50 to about 98%                                          
                          about 60 to about 85%                           
mer                                                                       
Bromo compound                                                            
           about 2 to about 50%                                           
                          about 15 to about 40%                           
______________________________________                                    
 Note, the percentages should add up to 100 percent in actual compositions

In the first package the relative amount of antimony oxide to decambromodiphenyl oxide should be in a weight ratio of 1:1 to about 1:5.

In the second package the relative amount of antimony oxide to chlorine compound should be in a weight ratio of 1:1 to about 1:5.

The flame retardants may be employed with other materials such as ammonium thiosulfate, asbestos, alkali metal carbonates or bicarbonates, e.g., potassium bicarbonate or stannous or stanic oxide. The preferred compositions of the invention, however, are those wherein the flame retardants noted above are employed as substantially the sole material used to impart flame retardancy to the polyketone composition.

In a preferred embodiment the compositions also contain a small amount of an alpha-olefin/unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer. This copolymer is a copolymer of an alpha-olefin and an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, with an optional small amount of a third monomer. The alpha-olefin/alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid polymer is present in an amount of from about 0.1% by weight to about 10% by weight, based on the total blend. Amounts from about 0.5% by weight to about 3% by weight on the same basis are preferred.

The alpha-olefin component of the olefin/unsaturated polymer is an alpha-olefin of up to 10 carbon atoms inclusive such as ethylene, propylene, 1-hexane, isobutylene, 1-octene or 1-decene. Preferred alpha-olefins are straight chain alpha-olefins of up to 4 carbon atoms inclusive and particularly preferred is ethylene. The alpha-olefin component of the olefin/unsaturated acid polymer is present in at least about 80% by mol, based on total copolymer, and is preferably present in a quantity of at least about 90% by mol on the same basis.

The unsaturated carboxylic acid component of the olefin/unsaturated acid polymer is preferably an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid of up to 10 carbon atoms inclusive and is illustrated by acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, 2-hexenoic acid, 2-octenoic acid and 2-decenoic acid. The preferred alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids have up to 4 carbon atoms inclusive. These are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and crotonic acid, of which acrylic acid and methacrylic acid are preferred. The unsaturated acid component of the olefin/unsaturated acid polymer is from about 1% by mol to about 20% by mol based on total polymer. Amounts of unsaturated carboxylic acid from about 1% by mol to about 10% by mol on the same basis are preferred.

The olefin/unsaturated acid polymer is suitably a copolymer of the alpha-olefin and the alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and in general such copolymers are preferred. On occasion, however, it is useful to include as an optional component, a third monomer which is a non-acidic molecular weight polymerizable monomer of up to 8 carbon atoms inclusive. Such optional third components may be other olefins, particularly other alpha-olefins such as propylene and styrene when the major alpha-olefin component is ethylene, unsaturated esters such as vinyl acetate or methyl methacrylate, unsaturated halohydrocarbons such as vinyl chloride and vinyl fluoride, and unsaturated nitriles such as acrylonitrile. The presence of a third polymerizable monomer is, as previously stated, optional and no third component is required. When a third component is present, however, amounts of third polymerizable monomer up to about 5% by mol, based on total olefin/unsaturated acid polymer, are satisfactory with amounts up to about 3% on the same basis being preferred.

A particularly useful class of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers is marketed by Dow Chemical Company under the tradename PRIMACOR and a useful class of ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers is marketed by DuPont Co. under the tradename NUCREL. NUCREL polymers are particularly preferred.

The flame retardant compositions are produced by mixing the flame retardants throughout the polyketone polymer. The method of forming the composition is not critical so long as the method results in a uniform mixture of flame retardants throughout at least the outer layer of the polyketone polymer. In a preparation of a composition useful in the form in which it is produced, only the outermost portion of the composition need be provided with flame retardant. However, in most applications, a flame retardant composition is produced which is then processed further and in such applications the production of a substantially uniform mixture of polyketone polymer and flame retardant is preferred. In one modification, the compositions are produced by dry blending the components in particulate form and converting to a substantially uniform composition by application of heat and pressure. Alternatively, the compositions are produced by heating the polyketone polymer until molten and the flame retardant thereof is mixed throughout the polymer by use of a high-shear mixer or extruder.

The polymer composition, in addition to polymer and flame retardant, may incorporate other conventional additives which do not detract from the flame retardant character of the composition. Examples of such additives are plasticizers, mold release agents and antioxidants which are added by blending or other conventional methods together with or separately from the flame retardants.

The flame retardant compositions are processed by injection molding, pressure forming or other conventional fabrication methods. They are characterized by the same combination of good impact, stiffness and heat resistant properties found in the neat polymer, and in addition have excellent flame retardancy. The compositions of this invention are useful in a variety of applications, particularly where exposure to elevated temperature is likely to be encountered. The compositions are useful in the production of parts for the automotive industry, electronics industry and electrical industry. The compositions are particularly useful for those automotive parts located within the engine compartment where high temperatures are encountered or those parts which encounter heat as during the baking of painted surfaces, e.g. wire coatings, connectors, etc.

The compositions of the invention are further illustrated by the following Comparative Examples and Illustrative Embodiments which should not be construed as limiting the invention.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE I

A first terpolymer (Polymer 1) of carbon monoxide, ethylene and propylene was prepared in the presence of a catalyst formed from palladium acetate, trifluoroacetic acid and 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane. The polymer had a melting point of 219° C. and a limiting viscosity number (LVN) of 1.60 measured at 60° C. in m-cresol. A second terpolymer (Polymer 2) of carbon monoxide, ethylene and propylene was prepared in the presence of a catalyst formed from palladium acetate, trifluoracetic acid and 1,3-bis[di(2-methoxyphenyl)phosphino]propane. The second terpolymer had a melting point of 221° C. and a LVN of 1.83 measured at 60° C. in m-cresol.

Polymer 1 was blended with different weight percents of calcium carbonate by use of a twin-screw extruder to produce nibs. Polymer 2 was also extruded to produce nibs for comparison purposes as a control without the addition of calcium carbonate. The nibs were injection molded into test bars of approximately 4.75 in. by 0.5 in. by 0.125 in. dimensions. The test bars were then sliced lengthwise into 3 equal strips and the edges were smoothed off. These strips were tested for flame retardancy.

Standard test method ASTM D2863-77 was used to evaluate the burning behavior of the different blend compositions. This test measures the minimum concentration of oxygen in an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere that is necessary to initiate and support a flame for 180 seconds on a test strip. The result of the test is expressed as the percentage of oxygen in the oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere and is called the Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) of the composition.

The LOI values determined for three different blends of the terpolymer and calcium carbonate are given in Table I together with the LOI of the terpolymer without added calcium carbonate used as a control sample. One can see from the LOI values in Table A that a greater percentage of oxygen was required in an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere to initiate and support a flame on the samples containing calcium carbonate in comparison to the control sample without calcium carbonate. The flame retardancy of the blend compositions is improved for the samples containing calcium carbonate, however the LOI values are still too low for most commercial applications.

              TABLE I                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Sample % Weight Calcium Carbonate                                         
                             LOI*                                         
______________________________________                                    
Control                                                                   
       none                  18.5-19                                      
1      5                     23-23.5                                      
2      10                    25.5-26                                      
3      25                    27-27.5                                      
______________________________________                                    
 *LOI values are expressed as a range obtained for three duplicate test   
 samples.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE II

A linear alternating terpolymer of carbon monoxide, ethylene and propylene was prepared, hereinafter referred to as Polymer 87-011. Polymer 87-011 was prepared in the presence of a catalyst formed from palladium acetate, the anion of trifluoroacetic acid, and 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane. Polymer 87-011 had a melting point of 218° C. and an LVN of 1.14.

In Comparative Example II, four fillers (talc, mica, surface treated mica and calcium carbonate) and a zinc borate flame retardant (Firebrake ZB, having the formula 2ZnO3B₂ O₃.3.5H₂ O) were dry blended with Polymer 87-011 at amounts of 20 and 40% by weight of the filler/flame retardant on a 15 mm Baker Perkins twin-screw extruder. This equipment had no devolatilization capabilities. Extrusion conditions were:

______________________________________                                    
Atmosphere: air                                                           
RPM: 300                                                                  
Feed Rate and Torque: adjusted maximize mixing                            
Temperatures: 425° F., 454° F., 486°, 456° F. 
Feed--Die                                                                 
______________________________________

All of the extrudates were foamy except for those from the calcium carbonate blends. Some foaming was expected due to the inability to devolatilize. The extrudates were then pelletized, dried at 50° C. for 16 hours, and compression molded into 5"×0.5"×0.125" test schemes for the LOI test.

The LOI results are listed in Table II.

              TABLE II                                                    
______________________________________                                    
PRELIMINARY SCREENING OF FLAME                                            
RETARDANTS FOR POLYKETONE                                                 
BASE POLYMER:  Polymer 87-011                                             
                            LVN = 1.14                                    
              LEVEL                                                       
FILLER        (wt. % based on total blend)                                
                                LOI                                       
______________________________________                                    
Talc          20%               22.5                                      
Talc          40%               26.5                                      
Zinc Borate   20%               27.5                                      
Zinc Borate   40%               30.5                                      
Mica          20%               24.5                                      
Mica          40%               23.5                                      
Surfaced treated Mica                                                     
              20%               21.5                                      
Surfaced treated Mica                                                     
              40%               29.5                                      
Calcium Carbonate                                                         
              20%               22.5                                      
Calcium Carbonate                                                         
              40%               29.5                                      
______________________________________

Illustrative Embodiment I

In Illustrative Embodiment I the polyketone employed (designated 088-024) was a linear alternating terpolymer of carbon monoxide, ethylene and about 7 wt.% propylene prepared by employing a catalyst composition formed from palladium acetate, the anion of trifluoracetic acid and 1,3-bis[di(methoxy-phenyl)phosphino]propane. Polymer 088-024 had a melting point of 219° C. and a limiting viscosity number (LVN) measured in 60° C. meta-cresol of 1.73.

The polymer 088-024 composition also contained 0.5% weight Irganox 1330 antioxidant and 0.5% weight Nucrel 535 ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer.

In Illustrative Embodiment I two different flame retardant systems were used. One system employed decabromodiphenyl oxide plus antimony trioxide. The other system employed antimony trioxide, Dechlorane Plus and Firebrake ZB zinc borate. Polymer 088-024 was dry blended with each flame retardant system on a 15 mm Baker Perkins twin-screw extruder, in a similar fashion to that employed in Comparative Example II.

The various compositions extruded are shown in Table III, and the extruder conditions are shown in Table IV.

              TABLE III                                                   
______________________________________                                    
Composition    1           2       3                                      
______________________________________                                    
Polymer 088-024*                                                          
               100% w      70% w   70% w                                  
Decabromodiphenyl oxide                                                   
               --          20% w   --                                     
Antimony trioxide                                                         
               --          10% w    5% w                                  
Dechlorane Plus                                                           
               --          --      20% w                                  
Zinc borate    --          --       5% w                                  
______________________________________                                    
 *Polymer 088024 contained 0.5% w Irganox 1330 antioxidant and 0.5% w     
 Nucrel 535 based on the total weight of polyketone plus 1330 plus Nucrel.

Composition 1 is the control and contained no flame retardant.

              TABLE IV                                                    
______________________________________                                    
EXTRUSION CONDITIONS                                                      
Composition 1            2        3                                       
______________________________________                                    
Atmosphere  Air          Air      Air                                     
RPM         300 max      300 max  300 max                                 
Torque      35-45        30-35    35-45                                   
Back Pressure                                                             
            43           48       49                                      
M.P. Zone 1 460° F.                                                
                         464° F.                                   
                                  464° F.                          
1           458          462      463                                     
2           492          --       --                                      
3           461          462      462                                     
4           461          458      458                                     
Die         463          464      464                                     
______________________________________

The three compositions were tested for LOI. The control (composition #1) had an LOI of 17.5. Composition #2, containing decabromodiphenyl oxide plus antimony trioxide, had an LOI of 52.5. Composition #3, containing antimony trioxide, Dechlorane Plus and zinc borate, had an LOI of 42.5. These LOI values are much higher than the values for compositions of Comparative Examples I and II, and have significant commercial interest.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A flame retardant polymer composition comprising a linear alternating polymer of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon and a flame retarding quantity of a flame retardant selected from the group consisting of:

(a) antimony oxide and decabromodiphenyl oxide;

(b) antimony oxide and a chlorine compound selected from the group consisting of perchloropentacyclodecane, the adduct ##STR7## or mixtures thereof; or (c) a bromine compound selected from the group consisting of tetrabromobisphenol A, a tetrabromobisphenol A carbonate oligomer or an ether derivative of tetrabromobisphenol A.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said polymer is a linear alternating polymer of the general formula ##STR8## wherein B is the moiety of an ethylenically unsaturated α-olefin of at least 3 carbon atoms polymerized through the ethylenic unsaturation and the ratio of y:x is no more than about 0.5.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein said ethylenically unsaturated α-olefin is propylene.

4. The composition of claim 2 wherein said quantity of flame retardant is about 2 to about 50 percent by weight, based on the total composition.

5. The composition of claim 4 wherein said quantity of flame retardant is about 15 to about 40 percent by weight, based on the total composition.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said flame retardant comprises antimony oxide and decabromodiphenyl oxide.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein said antimony oxide is antimony trioxide.

8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the quantity of said antimony trioxide is about 3 to about 15 percent by weight based on the total composition, the quantity of said decabromodiphenyl oxide is about 5 to about 25 percent by weight based on the total composition, and the weight ratio of antimony trioxide to decabromodiphenyl oxide is 1:1 to about 1:5.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein said flame retardant comprises antimony and chlorine compound selected from the group consisting of perchloropentacyclodecane, the adduct ##STR9## and mixtures thereof.

10. The composition of claim 9 wherein said antimony oxide is antimony trioxide.

11. The composition of claim 10 also containing a zinc borate having the formula xZno.yB₂ O₃.zH₂ O where x is 2, y is 3 and z is 3.3 to 3.7.

12. The composition of claim 11 wherein said chlorine compound is perchloropentacyclodecane.

13. The composition of claim 11 wherein said chlorine compound is the adduct ##STR10##

14. The composition of claim 13 wherein the quantity of antimony trioxide is about 3 to about 10 percent by weight based on the total composition, the quantity of zinc borate is about 3 to about 10 percent by weight based on the composition, and the quantity of chlorine compound is about 5 to about 25 percent by weight based on the total composition.

15. The composition of claim 1 wherein said flame retardant is a bromine compound selected from the group consisting of tetrabromobisphenol A, a tetrabromobisphenol A carbonate oligomer or an ether derivative of tetrabromobisphenol A.

16. The composition of claim 15 wherein said bromine compound is tetrabromobisphenol A.

17. The composition of claim 16 wherein the quantity of tetrabromobisphenol A is about 15 to about 40 percent by weight based on the total composition.

18. As an article of manufacture, a fabricated article produced from the composition of claim 1.

19. The composition of claim 4 also containing about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight, based on the total composition of an alpha-olefin/alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer.

20. The composition of claim 19 wherein said carboxylic acid copolymer is an ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer.

21. The composition of claim 19 wherein said carboxylic acid copolymer is an ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer.